The Importance of Godly Elders - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness To Titus, a true son in our common faith.
Titus 1:1, 4

The Importance of Godly Elders
To find the setting for this epistle, we travel to Crete, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea. There we find an assembly of believers formed during Paul's visit, and we find Titus, who had been left there to establish them in the life and walk of a believer. Paul wrote this letter to Titus, his son in the faith, to guide him in this enormous task to "set in order the things that are lacking" (v. 5). And there were many things that were lacking.

The Christians in Crete had been pagan worshipers and were part of a population known for its low moral standards. Even one of their poets had written, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons" (v. 12). Paul describes the sinful practices still prevalent among them and spoke of those who are "insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers whose mouths must be stopped" (vv. 10-11). They were to be rebuked sharply. Further, he said, "They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work" (v. 16).

These Christians needed fellow believers to show by example how a Christian ought to live. Paul gave Titus instructions regarding the qualifications of an elder, and we find these qualities listed in this chapter. He is to be blameless in every area of his life and to be found "holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught" (vv. 6-9).

Today, too, we need mature Christians, sound in faith and doctrine, who exemplify the principles we find in God's written Word. Such Christians are no longer appointed by men but prepared through the work of the Holy Spirit. .

Jacob Redekop